The Orioles of the Hollister American Little League put on an
exhibition over the weekend in the ongoing District 9 Tournament of
Champions at Vet’s Park. Batting around in the second and third
innings in their opening round game against the Pirates of North
County, the O’s tagged a methodical 13-3 rout on the Pirates and
nearly had a combined no-hitter in four innings.
The Orioles of the Hollister American Little League put on an exhibition over the weekend in the ongoing District 9 Tournament of Champions at Vet’s Park. Batting around in the second and third innings in their opening round game against the Pirates of North County, the O’s tagged a methodical 13-3 rout on the Pirates and nearly had a combined no-hitter in four innings.
The Orioles capped off their third straight win on Sunday, outslugging the Hartnell Cardinals 10-6. Kyle Zozaya, who pitched all six innings for the O’s, clouted a three-run homer in the second inning. Steven Cabral, who is enjoying a torrid tournament, followed that with a solo shot.
The win Sunday propels the Orioles into Wednesday’s semifinal game against the Hollister National Little League Giants. First pitch is at 6 p.m.
Returning to Friday night’s contest, the Pirates were down to their last out in the fourth when Leo Seymour doubled off Trevor Gessell. That broke up what would have been a combined no-no. Kyle Zozaya walked three batters in the first three innings and that was it. Orioles manager Steve Gessell pulled Zozaya and replaced him with his son, Trevor.
“If Kyle had pitched one more pitch in the fourth inning, I wouldn’t have been able to use him on
Sunday. He would have to have three days rest, not one.”
The Pirates went on to score three runs in the inning, two coming off a two-run homer to right field by Derick Wolf. However, it was a case of too little, too late for the second place team out of North County Little League.
The Orioles, champs of HALL, had wrapped up the game with a five-run second and a five-run third. No one had a bigger day than Orioles second baseman Adrian Garcia, who proved he’s one of the best players in the league. Garcia, hitting to all fields, doubled and scored a run in the second, had an RBI single and scored in the third, then hit a bloop double down the left field line in the fourth to drive in Gessell. Garcia scored when Steven Cabral’s pop-up to short left was left unattended for an error. That run gave the home team Orioles the 10-run mercy rule cushion to send their fans home.
The Orioles had offensive contributions up-and-down their lineup. Cabral, batting cleanup, knocked in the first run of the game with a crunching double to right-center. The fifth place hitter, Tyler Ruiz, doubled into right-center for another O’s run, then drove in his second run of the night when he walked with the bases juiced in the third. Devin Jimenez, batting seventh, doubled and scored in the second and had an RBI on a fielder’s choice grounder in the third. His double boomed halfway up the left field fence. And finall, Spencer Brann, batting eighth, had a double and two hits and scored twice.
While the Pirates helped out with seven errors, the Orioles flashed some leather, chalking up two double plays. Gessell, playing short, fielded a grounder near second with a runner on at first in the top of the first. He tossed to Garcia, who threw to Tyler Provost to complete the DP. Wolf was on at first in the second inning when Nick Jimenez hit a soft liner to Provost, who stepped on first to double up Wolf.
Tourney notes: The Orioles had seven doubles in the game vs. the Pirates…..The Orioles rocked the Ferrasci Braves on Saturday 12-0. Steven Cabral ripped a homer.
NC Pirates 000 3 – 3 4 7
Orioles 155 2 – 13 10 2
O’Dell, Doyon (2), Seymour (3) and Young; Zozaya, Gessell (4) and Cabral. WP-Zozaya. LP-O’Dell. 2B – Seymour (P); Gessell, Garcia 2, Cabral, Ruiz, D. Jimenez, Brann (O). HR – Wolf (P). 3 hits – Garcia (O). 2 hits – Brann (O). 2 RBI – Wolf (P); Garcia, Ruiz (O).
